Disposable syringe needle and scalpel holder

ABSTRACT

A holder for a used needle removed from a hypodermic syringe or a used scalpel blade. The holder safely encloses the needle or blade, and can be safely disposed of with the needle or blade. The holder is supported on a base with a releasable fitting enabling the holder to be oriented at assorted angles. The holder can also serve to support the syringe or scalpel while treating a patient.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed patentapplication, Ser. No. 520,733, filed May 9, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No.4,995,870.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a disposable device for used syringe needlesand scalpel blades, and can allow function as a holder for such devices.

In my prior application, whose contents are hereby incorporated byreference, I describe a holder for use with a hypodermic syringe toassist a user in assembling and disassembling the syringe. In theembodiments described in that application, a card or spring-loaded clipsis used to hold the conventional sheath which houses the needle. Also,the card can be provided with adhesive bands so it can be folded overthe used needle to cover and protect same against accidental contact byanother person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an object an improved holder for a syringeneedle, in which at least part of the holder encloses and protectsagainst accidental contact with the needle.

Another object of the invention is an improved holder which affords easydisposal of a used needle.

Still another object of the invention is a disposable holder for usedneedles and scalpel blades which can also serve to support the syringeor scalpel for repeated use on the same patient.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention are achieved,in accordance with one aspect of the invention, by a holder having afirst hollow member which at one end is sized to releasably grip the hubof a disposable needle. The working forward end of the needle is safelyconfined within the hollow member. Above the gripping end is provided asecond hollow member sized to receive the syringe and surround andprotect the rearward needle end when separated from the syringe barrel.

The practitioner can at any time insert the syringe into the firsthollow member, where it will be safely held by the second hollow member.When the practitioner desires, the syringe barrel is readily detachedfrom the needle hub, leaving the separated needle lodged safely in theholder first hollow member. The latter can then be safely disposed of.

In a preferred embodiment, means are provided on the holder, or on abase support for the holder, that allows the holder to be oriented inseveral different positions for the convenience of the practitioner.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a similarlyconfigured holder or stand is adapted to support a scalpel while in use.Following use, the scalpel blade can be detached from its handle andlodged safely in the holder for safe disposal.

Another aspect of the invention is a novel support for the holder whichallows orientation in multiple positions for the user's convenience.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described the preferredembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section of one form of holder in accordancewith the invention, showing a syringe being supported thereby;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a base support for the holder of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show, respectively, the hollow member of the firstembodiment, and a typical disposable needle with its protective sheath;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial views of the holder of FIG. 1 shown in twodifferent orientations;

FIG. 7 is a partial view of a modification of the holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a further modification especiallysuitable for plastic syringes;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the holder base;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the two parts of the base ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified holder for a scalpel;

FIG. 13 shows a further modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates one form of device 8 in accordance with theinvention, shown for use with a standard dental syringe 10 of the typecomprising a metal barrel 11 for receiving a cartridge 12 withmedication. The usual plunger is not shown. The barrel bottom terminatesin a hollow threaded end 13 for receiving the threaded hub 15 supportinga conventional disposable needle 16. The needle when separated is shownin FIG. 4, with the bottom housed in a removable protective cap orsheath 17. When the needle hub 15 is screwed onto the syringe end 13,the needle back end penetrates a diaphragm at the cartridge bottom andenters the medication stored in the cartridge 12.

The device 8 of the invention comprises a base member 20 having means,for example, the screw fasteners 21, for mounting the base 20 to anysuitable table top or side 22. Projecting upward from the base 20 areflanged members 23 which gradually taper inward toward one another asillustrated in the top view of FIG. 2. The flanged members 23 form atapered slot-shaped receptacle 24 for removably receiving and anchoringa T-shaped mating member 25 at the bottom of a stand 26. By sliding theT-end 25 into the slot 24 from the front until the T-edges engage theflange walls, the stand 26 can be anchored to the base 20, yet be easilyremoved by reversing the movement.

The stand 26 is closed off on top by a threaded cap 30 having, dependingbelow the cap, a closed sheath 31 corresponding to the first hollowmember, and projecting upwards a cylindrical open-end element 32corresponding to the second hollow member, termed herein a chimney. Thesheath 31 has a gripping opening 33 whose diameter is substantiallyequal to that of the hub 15. The sheath 31, as will be noted, tapersgradually inwardly.

The configuration is such that when the needle hub 15 is pushed downwardinto that sheath opening 33, a snug fit results. The hub is typically ofplastic, and the stand and cap are also made of plastic material, sothat when the hub is inserted, it is held in the opening 33 andsufficiently gripped such that the syringe 10 can be screwed andunscrewed from the hub 15, yet if desired, when the syringe is pulled bythe practitioner, the syringe 10 plus the attached hub 15 with needle 16can be separated from the cap 30. The spacing between the syringe wall11 and the inner side of the chimney 32 is such that the syringe iseasily inserted into the chimney, yet the syringe will be supported inan upright position.

When used by a dental practitioner, the base 20 is conveniently mountedon a table. The dentist inserts the stand 26 into the channel 24. Thedentist then inserts the cartridge 12 into the syringe, removes theupper cover of a disposable needle, and holding the protective cover 17then screws the hub 15 onto the threaded part 13. He then can use thesyringe to inject medication into the patient. He can then insert thesyringe 10 into the chimney 32 until the hub 15 engages the opening 33.The syringe when released will be supported in a sterile conditionwithin the sheath 31, assuming the latter is part of a fresh, unused capsub-assembly 30. If desired, the syringe can be removed and furthermedicament injections given to the same patient, each time returning thesyringe to the stand holder. When the procedure is completed, and thesyringe returned to the holder, the dentist rotates the syringe 10 tounscrew it from the hub 15, and removes the syringe 10, the hub 15 withattached needle 16 remaining behind safely protected inside the cap 30.The front used needle end remains at all times within the sheath 31. Theheight and diameter of the chimney 32 is chosen such that the rear top,referenced 35, of the needle remains sufficiently below the chimney topthat the finger of the dentist or an assistant if accidentally pushedinto the chimney will not touch the needle tip 35. A chimney height ofabout seven-eighths inches, and a chimney ID of about one-half inches issuitable for this purpose. The dentist can then unscrew the cap 30 withthe enclosed needle from the stand, and dispose of it. Thus, the usedneedle is never touched prior to, during, or after use on the patient.Moreover, in the disposed condition, the used needle end, which enteredthe patient, remains at all times within the protective sheath 31. Thedentist then places a fresh cap 30 on the stand 26, and is prepared forthe next patient.

As will be observed, the stand contains two additional T-shaped fittings37, 38. The fitting 37 on the left is used when the dentist desires tomount the stand 26 horizontally as shown in FIG. 5, or vertically whenthe base 20 is mounted on a vertical wall. The fitting 38 is used whenthe dentist desires to have the stand 26 project at a 45° angle, asshown in FIG. 6. Thus, with respect to the T-fitting 25, the T-fitting37 is rotated 90°, and the T-fitting 38 is rotated 45°. Other angles canbe chosen if desired. It will also be appreciated that other ways ofreleasably securing the cap to the stand can be substituted for thethreaded engagement illustrated.

In the embodiment so far described, multiple fittings 25, 37, 38 areprovided on the stand 26 for selective engagement with one matingfitting 24 on the base 20, to afford the dentist the versatility ofmounting the stand at a selected orientation as he prefers.Alternatively, the stand can be provided with a single T-fitting formating with one of variously oriented slots on the base. Thismodification, which is preferred, is illustrated in FIG. 7. A basemember 40 is mounted, as by screws or other suitable fasteners oradhesives, to a workbench 41. The base 40 is provided with three flangedfittings 42, 43, 44 mounted horizontally, vertically, and at a 45°angle, respectively. The stand 26 is shown with its T-fitting 25 mountedin the flanged slot 42, so as to extend vertically similarly to theposition shown in FIG. 1. For a horizontal orientation, the stand 26 canbe mounted as shown in phantom in the flanged slot 43, or to extend at a45° angle in the flanged slot 44.

In the embodiments so far described, which is especially suited fordental syringes with threaded hubs, the cap with enclosed used needle isdiscarded after use, but the stand remains behind for further use. Inthe next embodiment, there is no removable cap, and the entire stand isdisposed of when the procedure is completed. This is illustrated in FIG.8, and is best suited for the one time disposable plastic syringescommonly used by medical practitioners. These type of syringes,designated 50, typically comprises a plastic syringe body 51 with anon-threaded stem 52 adapted to receive a disposable needle 53containing a non-threaded hub 54. The stem and hub come in standardsizes such that when the hub 54 is pushed onto the stem 52, it is heldby a friction fit, and the barrel can then be filled with a desiredmedicament and injected into the patient.

In this embodiment, the stand 60 comprises a one-piece plastic moldedmember comprising an enclosure 61 corresponding to the first hollowmember with an inner projecting wall 62 forming a hub-receiving grippingopening 63 inside a tapered spout 64. A chimney extension 65corresponding to the second hollow member projects upwardly as before.

The operation is similar to that of the previous embodiments. The stand60 is slid into the slot 24 to hold same upright. The used syringe 50 isthen inserted into the chimney until the needle hub 54 snugly engagesthe opening 63 in the spout 64. The syringe body 51 can then be twistedto separate it from the needle hub 54, removed and discarded, the needlebeing captured by the stand opening 63 and remaining behind. The rearneedle end, as before, remains protected within the chimney 65. Thedentist then removes the entire stand from its base support 20 anddiscards the entire stand with the used needle fully enclosed andprotected. To reduce costs, it is preferred that the disposable stand 60contains a single mounting fitting 65, and, if multiple orientations aredesired, that the base 40 shown in FIG. 7 is employed. Alternatively, abase with a single T-slot can be employed, but assorted bases withT-slots at assorted orientations can be made available to suit aparticular user's preference.

As will be observed, the device of FIG. 8, being smaller and made ofone-piece, will require less material and thus will be less expensive tofabricate, and therefore less costly to dispose of. Since medicalpractitioners often employ syringes of various sizes, it is a relativelysimple matter to provide the practitioner with an assortment of suchstands each configured for use with a particular sized syringe butmountable on the same base 20.

The slight tapering of the spout 64 forming the hub-receiving opening 63will accommodate hubs 54 whose ODs slightly differ. If desired, toincrease the frictional holding force, an O-ring 67 of rubber or plasticcan be mounted in a slot 68 within the spout opening 63, as shown inFIG. 8.

It will be appreciated that various other forms of fittings can be usedfor removably attaching the stand to its base, as well as for holdingthe cap onto the stand in the FIG. 1 embodiment. While the T-shapedfitting with the tapered slot is preferred, because it locks the standagainst rotation allowing one-handed use, the invention is not limitedto such an attachment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified fitting for supporting a stand of the typepreviously described as well as a stand suitable for a scalpel,described below. In this embodiment, the fitting comprises two parts 70,71. The lower part 70 is a flat plate 72 having mounting holes forreceiving screws 73 (FIG. 11) for mounting horizontally or vertically ona support surface. Four raised flanged elements 74 arranged on threesides provide a receptacle for removably receiving from the fourth side75 a hexagonal base 76 on the upper part 71 (FIG. 12). The hexagonalbase allows the upper part 71 to be rotated into any one of six possiblerotary positions and then inserted and detachably held on the plate 70.A recessed hexagonal area 77 is gripped by the flanged ends of theelements 74. The upper part 71, similarly to the base member 40 of FIG.7, contains multiple slots for receiving the grooved base of the stand26. FIG. 9, which shows the upper part 71 assembled to the plate 70 inone of its six positions, illustrates a vertically oriented slot 79 forsupporting a horizontal stand, a horizontally-oriented slot 80 forsupporting a vertical stand, and a tilted slot 81 for supporting atilted stand. The multiple-oriented slots and the multiply-positionablepart 71 combine to allow positioning of the stand for the user'sconvenience in a multitude of positions. Other slots can be placed onother surfaces of the part 71 to add to the possibilities. It will beevident that the modified base of FIGS. 9-11 provides a very versatilesupport for the disposable stand or holder. It is also usable with ascalpel holder now described.

In the previous embodiments, the stand was used to support a syringe andfor safe disposal of a used needle. A similar construction can be usedfor similar purposes for a conventional scalpel with a detachableconventional blade. This is illustrated in FIG. 12, with the scalpelhandle shown at 83 having a lower shank portion 84 containing a raisedridge 85 adapted to engage a slot 86 in a standard disposable blade 87.A stand 88, shown in phantom, is of the type illustrated at 60 in FIG. 8with a single T-shaped bottom portion at its left for use with the baseof FIGS. 9-11. The stand interior is different, however. A singleplastic piece 89, generally cylindrical, is wedged or glued inside thecylindrical stand 88. It comprises an upper cylindrical part 90 with aslot 91 for passage of the scalpel. A cut-out section 92 separates thepart 90 from a semi-circular lower part 93 having a hole 94 for passageof the scalpel shank 84. The hole 94 defines two shoulders 95 on whichthe blade edges bordering the slot 86 rest. The alignment of the slot 91with the hole 94 is slightly off center, so that when the scalpel isinserted through the top open end 96 of the stand, the handle 83 isslightly tilted as shown about 10° off of the axis of the cylindricalstand 88.

The stand will support the scalpel in a safe position with the blademounted and protected (the bottom left end, not shown, of the stand 88is closed off) and can be repeatedly inserted and removed by the user.When, however, the scalpel handle is pushed further inward to theposition shown in FIG. 12, the slightly angled motion (to the left inFIG. 12) causes the shoulders 95 to cam the blade back end up and overthe ridge 85, which loosens the blade 87. Now, if the user withdraws thehandle 83, the bottom portion of part 90 detaches the blade 87 whichthen remains safely behind protected inside the stand 88. The latterwith the used blade can then be safely disposed of.

The same stand can also be used to receive used suture needles, whichwill fall through the part 89 to the bottom, after which it can be usedto remove the scalpel blade. The base in FIGS. 9-11 will also supporttwo individual stands if needed by the user.

FIG. 13 shows a further modification providing adjacent stands for say ascalpel and a syringe. A base 100 has provision for screw 101 mounting.Alternatively, a layer of contact cement can be provided on the bottomor side surfaces. Upstanding from the base 100 are two hexagonal hollowmembers 102,103, with one 102 oriented at for instance 60° and the other103 at 45°. These are designed to receive and support a syringe orscalpel stand. A syringe stand 105 is shown at the left, and is of thetype illustrated in FIG. 8 except that the outer configuration ishexagonal and the bottom portion is different. Otherwise the stand 105comprises a hollow member with a restricted portion 106 sized to gripthe hub of a syringe, as in FIG. 8, to allow removal of the needle,which is retained in a closed area 107 having at its bottom a closednipple 108 sized to fit within the opening 109 in the member 102 whenthe stand 105 is placed over the member 102 and pushed down to seat onit. A cavity 110 in the stand bottom fits over the member 102 and holdsthe former in an upright position. With the parts made of plastic, forexample, polypropylene, a little resiliency is present to provide a safebut removable connection of the stand for ultimate disposal of thecontained used needle. The complementary hexagonal surfaces help toprevent rotation of the stand when the user rotates the syringe. Thecavity 110 can also be cylindrical. The depending nipple 108 allows forsafe storage of the detached needle. The hole 109 allows for a shortstand but with an elongated protected region--the nipple 108--which canreceive the latter.

The members 102,103 are preferably at different angles so as to preventinterference between adjacent instruments. A stand 112 on the right isof the type illustrated in FIG. 12 for holding a scalpel and for bladeremoval. It contains on the inside a member 89 corresponding to themember 89 of FIG. 12. An opening 113 on top is to receive the scalpel.The bottom portion 114 is configured similarly to that of the stand 105and operates the same way. It can be fitted over and supported on eitherof the members 102, 103.

Alternatively, a pin can be mounted in the stand, transverse to thestand axis, which passes through the part 89 and whose inner end isopposite the blade rear end. When the pin is pushed inward by the user,the inner end pushes the blade rear off the ridge to detach the blade.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferredembodiments, it will be understood that modifications thereof within theprinciples outlined above will be evident to those skilled in the artand thus the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments butis intended to encompass such modifications.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for assisting in safely demounting of ablade having a slotted rear end from a scalpel handle comprising:ahollow member for receiving and holding the scalpel when the blade endis inserted, means connected to the hollow member for detaching thescalpel blade from its handle, means for supporting the hollow member ona supporting surface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollowmember comprises a generally cylindrical first part having a slot forpassage of the scalpel blade and blade-mounting shank, and a second parthaving a passage for the scalpel shank defining shoulder portionsengaging the blade rear part, whereby pushing in of the scalpel handlecauses the blade to be detached from the shank and allows removal of thehandle.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second part is generallysemi-circular and slightly offset from the slot whereby the scalpel wheninserted is slightly tilted.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein thesupporting means comprises a lower part having a flanged receiving area,and an upper part having a multi-sided member configured to removablyengage the flanged receiving area in any of multiple positions, saidupper part further having a plurality of differently-oriented receivingregions for removably receiving the hollow member.
 5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the multi-sided member is hexagonal.
 6. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises a basemember, a plurality of upstanding members having openings and mounted onsaid base, said hollow member having at its bottom a wall defining acavity sized to removably fit over and be supported on either of theupstanding members.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein theupstanding members have multi-sided configurations, the said cavity ismulti-sided, and the said hollow member has a depending closed nipple.8. The device of claim 6, wherein the multi-sided member is hexagonal.